COVID-19’s Impact on the Chinese Economy and Lessons for Europe

The impact of COVID-19 has sent shockwaves across the global economy, with stock markets dropping to levels not seen since the 2008 financial crisis. First hit by the ongoing pandemic was China, which now appears on track to stage the first recovery among leading economies. Many are now looking to China not only to understand the impact of the virus and plot a path to recovery, but also to see if the world’s second largest economy will take a leadership role in the global revival to come.

Widely followed as a key indicator of Chinese executives’ sentiment on China’s macroeconomic environment, the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business’ (CKGSB) Business Conditions Index (BCI) provides an index of business conditions and economic trends throughout China. Against the backdrop of the dual health and economic COVID-19 crisis, the BCI – which has been running monthly since September 2011 – has fallen to an all-time low.

This Asia House webinar, organised in partnership with CKGSB, will reflect on the BCI’s findings for the month of April, and assess the impact of COVID-19 on Chinese businesses and the economy. CKGSB Associate Dean and Professor of Economics Li Wei will present on the BCI’s findings and shed light on the economic fallout of COVID-19 in China.

Following the presentation, this webinar will convene other leading experts on the Chinese economy and Chinese enterprise to join Professor Li in discussion. Alongside examining how the pandemic will affect China’s economic growth, the panel of experts will also discuss the impact it will have on its relationship with Europe.

Programme

(Timings are BST)

 13:30 – Introductory Remarks: Asia House Chief Executive and Moderator Michael Lawrence

13:35 – Presentation: China’s Economic Outlook amidst the COVID-19 Outbreak

Li Wei, Professor of Economics, Associate Dean of MBA Program, Director of the Case Center, CKGSB

 14:05 – Panel Discussion

Li Wei, Professor of Economics, Associate Dean of MBA Program, Director of the Case Center, CKGSB

Alicia Garcia Herrero, Chief Economist, NATIXIS

Michael Lawrence, Chief Executive of Asia House (Moderator)

 14:45 – Q&A with participants

 15:00 – End

Speakers

Professor Li Wei

Dr Li Wei is Professor of Economics, Associate Dean of English MBA, Director of the Case Center and Director of the China Economy and Sustainable Development Center at CKGSB. He formerly served as a professor at the Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia.

Previously, he was a research associate at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Studies and taught at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

His areas of expertise include, Financial Markets, Macroeconomics and Market Competition.

Alicia García Herrero

Alicia García Herrero is a Senior Fellow at European think-tank BRUEGEL. She is also the Chief Economist for Asia Pacific at Natixis and non-resident Research Fellow at Madrid-based political think tank Real Instituto Elcano. She is currently Adjunct Professor at the Hong Kongm University of Science and Technology and member of the advisory board of Berlin-based China think-tank MERICS. Finally, Alicia is advisor to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s research arm (HKIMR) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as well as a member of the board of the Hong Kong Forum and co-founder of Bright Hong Kong.

In previous years, Alicia held the following positions: Chief Economist for Emerging Markets at Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), Member of the Asian Research Program at the Bank of International Settlements (BIS), Head of the International Economy Division of the Bank of Spain, Member of the Counsel to the Executive Board of the European Central Bank, Head of Emerging Economies at the Research Department at Banco Santander, and Economist at the International Monetary Fund. In addition, Alicia has always combines her professional career with academia, having served as visiting Professor for John Hopkins University, China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in Shanghai and Carlos III University in Madrid.

Alicia holds a PhD in Economics from George Washington University and has published extensively in refereed journals and books. Alicia is also very active in international media (Bloomberg and CNBC among others) as well as social media (Twitter, LinkedIn and Weibo). As recognition of her leadership thoughts, Alicia has recently been nominated TOP Voices in Economy and Finance by LinkedIn.

Li Xin

Li Xin is Vice President of Caixin Media and Managing Director of Caixin Global, leading the company’s global news and intelligence services, as well as Caixin’s international branding and global events. Before Caixin, she was the Managing Editor of the Chinese Wall Street Journal and Chinese Dow Jones newswire.
This is her second stint at Caixin, where she was formerly the Managing Editor of Caixin: China Economics & Finance, an English-language magazine, and Caixin Online at Caixin Media.

In 2006, she founded Caijing Magazine’s first bureau in the United States, as a correspondent of politics and economics. Li was a documentary producer at China Central Television between 2001 and 2004. Li holds a bachelor degree from Tsinghua University, a master degree the journalism school of University of Missouri-Columbia and an Executive MBA degree from Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business. She is an Aspen China Fellow and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, as well as a member of the International Media Council at the World Economic Forum. She is the co-chair of China Council for World Economic Forum Future Councils.

Li is an avid pubic speaker, moderated panels at international conferences such as the World Economic Forum, DLD and Caixin Summit, on topics of China’s economy and finance, tech, environment and women leadership, and spoke on journalism, China’s economy and overseas investment at conferences at Oxford University and Global Editor’s Network.

For more information, please contact Lara Groves, Stakeholder Engagement Associate, at lara.groves@asiahouse.co.uk

The webinar is being held as part of an ongoing series of digital events amid the coronavirus pandemic featuring senior officials in Asia.